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Can Bronchospasm Cause Brain Damage?
Question: Hello, I've suffered a recent traumatic event that I would like your informed medical opinion about. On Friday, 10/24/14, I had Pulmonary Function tests (breathing tests) to evaluate some lung inflammation and shortness of breath I've been experiencing.
I may have over-exerted my lungs during the forced exhalation part of the tests. I felt okay initially after the tests, except for some slight pressure in my right eye, but later that day and evening, my lungs really started to hurt and was having shortness
of breath and difficulty exhaling completely. The testing must have triggered bronchospasms. It lasted into the night when I went to bed. I probably should have gone to the ER but I didn't. I had stopped using the Asmanex and Spiriva inhalers prior to the
PFT per the test site's instructions. The Spiriva inhaler might have relieved the bronchospasm but I didn't use it that evening. My lungs recovered the next day, but I fear that this bronchospasm episode might have caused brain damage. What do you think?
I may have over-exerted my lungs during the forced exhalation part of the tests. I felt okay initially after the tests, except for some slight pressure in my right eye, but later that day and evening, my lungs really started to hurt and was having shortness
of breath and difficulty exhaling completely. The testing must have triggered bronchospasms. It lasted into the night when I went to bed. I probably should have gone to the ER but I didn't. I had stopped using the Asmanex and Spiriva inhalers prior to the
PFT per the test site's instructions. The Spiriva inhaler might have relieved the bronchospasm but I didn't use it that evening. My lungs recovered the next day, but I fear that this bronchospasm episode might have caused brain damage. What do you think?
Brief Answer:
be relax and keep calm.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM.
In my opinion you should not worry for brain damage.
If your PFT report is normal than no need to worry about bronchospasm. Just start your medicines and inhalers. You will be alright.
And mild to moderate bronchospasm can not cause brain damage. Only severe bronchospasm causing low oxygen saturation may cause brain damage. But honestly speaking chances are very less.
So no need to worry for brain damage.
Continue with the inhalers.
And in rare case bronchospasm can cause hypoxic brain damage and the main symptom of this is seizures and this can be identified by MRI brain.
So better not to worry for brain damage.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
be relax and keep calm.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM.
In my opinion you should not worry for brain damage.
If your PFT report is normal than no need to worry about bronchospasm. Just start your medicines and inhalers. You will be alright.
And mild to moderate bronchospasm can not cause brain damage. Only severe bronchospasm causing low oxygen saturation may cause brain damage. But honestly speaking chances are very less.
So no need to worry for brain damage.
Continue with the inhalers.
And in rare case bronchospasm can cause hypoxic brain damage and the main symptom of this is seizures and this can be identified by MRI brain.
So better not to worry for brain damage.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Dear Doctor Bhavsar:
Thank you for your detailed response and explanation.
I did not go to the ER that night when I was having the bronchospasm symptoms of lung pain and difficulty breathing/exhaling, so I don't know what my oxygen saturation level was at that time. The next morning when I woke up, I did have a headache, but the lung pain/spasms from the PFT had subsided. I did see a physician, and my pulse oximetry reading was 97.
Do you think that it's unlikely that the bronchospasm I had after the PFT was severe enough to cause brain damage? Do you think this episode warrants an MRI of the brain?
Thank you for your detailed response and explanation.
I did not go to the ER that night when I was having the bronchospasm symptoms of lung pain and difficulty breathing/exhaling, so I don't know what my oxygen saturation level was at that time. The next morning when I woke up, I did have a headache, but the lung pain/spasms from the PFT had subsided. I did see a physician, and my pulse oximetry reading was 97.
Do you think that it's unlikely that the bronchospasm I had after the PFT was severe enough to cause brain damage? Do you think this episode warrants an MRI of the brain?
Brief Answer:
I don't think you are having brain damage.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your query.
I don't think you had brain damage at that day.
And yes you should have taken inhalers at that day. But I don't think by not taking inhalers you damage your brain.
And headache at the next morning could be due to disturbed sleep, as your spasm had decreased. So bronchospasm is not the cause for your headache.
And no question of MRI in my opinion, as I don't think you are having brain damage.
So better to relax and keep calm. No need for MRI.
Hope I have solved your queries. If you are not having further queries than please close the conversation and rate the answer. Wish you good health. Thanks.
I don't think you are having brain damage.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your query.
I don't think you had brain damage at that day.
And yes you should have taken inhalers at that day. But I don't think by not taking inhalers you damage your brain.
And headache at the next morning could be due to disturbed sleep, as your spasm had decreased. So bronchospasm is not the cause for your headache.
And no question of MRI in my opinion, as I don't think you are having brain damage.
So better to relax and keep calm. No need for MRI.
Hope I have solved your queries. If you are not having further queries than please close the conversation and rate the answer. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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